SERIES 3: APPLYING FOR THE JOB

Applying to jobs can be a daunting task, but we are here to help! Our senior co-op students have prepared some tips that can help you with your resume and cover letter to hopefully ease the job application process a bit. Good luck with all your job applications!   

Resume Tips: 

• Ensure it is easy to read, well-formatted and coherent. 

• Make sure your resume highlights the skills that are in the job description and tailor your resume to the jobs that you are applying for. 

• Talk to your co-op advisor and see what they believe is the best to have on your resume and/or talk to fellow co-op students to see what they have had success with. 

• When writing descriptions, try to think about the results from the tasks you performed - how did your work/contribution help add value/bring the company success? Do an action and result type format for your bullet points.

• Use strong adjectives and showcase exactly what you learned. Hard skills are important, but soft skills matter as well, so ensure you have a bit of both in your resume.

• Make sure to quantify your results. Numbers sell and show how much you have achieved in your role. If you have a number in a line, move that line to the top of your role. Recruiters like to see the tangible work you’ve done and then move on to the soft skills in the following lines.

• A personal summary at the beginning of your resume is often a really great asset. Write 1-2 sentences about your highlighted skills that would make you fit for the role you are applying for. Even if you have a cover letter, this is often a good thing to have because some recruiters may not give your cover letter the attention it deserves.

• If you have a Linkedin account, put the link to your profile in the contact information section of your resume.

• For technical skills like Excel, Quickbooks, Sage 50, remember to state your skill level (advanced, proficient, etc.). 

Cover Letter Tips: 

• Make sure that your cover letter is not the same as your resume. Don’t just copy text from your resume, make it different and original! 

• Use the keywords from the job description in the cover letter. Your cover letter should be matched with the job description. 

• Reach out to your co-op advisors, they know exactly what needs to be there and how to format it best and/or ask previous students who had placements at that company you are applying to, what the general idea of their cover letter was and keep that in mind while writing your cover letter.

• Cover letters should show employers what you know about the company and why you would be a great fit (and also why the company specifically - what made the company stand out to you?)

• Cover letter format example: 

  • Introduction: Include what makes you stand out from others, why you are interested, and what position you are applying for.

  • Body: Use SAR (Situation Action Result) and talk about what makes you a perfect fit. What skills do you have that will help you succeed in the role?

    • Focus on emphasizing your strengths and explaining why you are set apart from the rest of the applicants. 

    • Try to incorporate specific examples from your previous experience that “proves” the skills/qualities you claimed to have. 

  • End: Thank them and restate interest.